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To all you Carcano haters

jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
edited November 2001 in General Discussion
I wonder if people bash and deride this weapon based on it's merits, or based on Italy's less than stellar performance in both world wars? The Carcano is far from my favorite, but I do find it is accurate, reliable, and fun to shoot. In 1891 it was ahead of its time; sure, the Mosin Nagant and early Mausers were just coming out, but Carcano had no way of knowing about these designs. Surely, the Carcano is as good as the 1888 Mauser, Kropatscheks, Lebels, and trapdoors then in use around the world. It merely outlasted its welcome, that's all. By WW2, it was a slow, awkward bolt action, in a war where semi auto was becoming- if not quite yet the standard- the dominant force. As for my Carcano with the bent reciever, in examining the lugs, reciever ring, etc., I find no trace of damage. Only the right rear reciever wall was bent, and I can think of only one thing which could have caused this on an otherwise fine rifle; a Carcano hater purposely messing it up just to prevent anyone from using it. Has anyone actually seen- in person- one of these actions fail in use? If not, than what are you complaining about?
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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Comments

  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Actually it sounds like you're having lots of fun with these guns. I might just scrounge one up to tinker with myself. Keep posting I'm following your progress.WOODS
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  • Mark IIMark II Member Posts: 247 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The only problem I have with mine is availability and cost of ammo. I see parts for them at just about every gun show, so that is no problem. Is any manufacturer currently making ammo for the 6.5?
    "To meet with ill fortune is to meet with good fortune. To meet with submission is to meet an enemy."
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Well, Norma makes 6.5 Carcano, as does some company named "PVRI" or something like that... personally I load my own. I might add that, despite my recent loud squawkings about the Carcano, I'll take my 6.5X55 over it any day.
    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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  • davem3davem3 Member Posts: 75 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jonk, didn't the Warren Commission find the Carcano to be the fastest firing,most accurate bolt action rifle ever made up to that time?
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  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I once read somewhere that the Germans converted some Carcanos to 8x57. Supposedly to arm gaurds at munitions plants and such.I can't remember where I read it nor have I seen it a second time. The thought of this conversion scares the hell out of me. Has anyone else ever heard of this?
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've heard of the 8x57 Mauser conversion of the 7.35 Italian Tierni Carcano but the action was only designed for 38000 psi ammo. By the same token there were US Army Ordnance arsenal conversions of the 7.7 Jap which was also designed for lower power cartridges of about 42000psi. After 500 rounds of the higher pressure, US Army M-1 Ball, the Jap headspace goes out of spec every time.It takes a lot to bend a military receiver.Yours might have been run over or hit by shrapnel.Albeit clumsy to shoot,these are good, no-worry, hunt in the rain rifles. If you drop them in the river or down a mountainside there's nothing lost.
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  • J.JohnJ.John Member Posts: 56 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Jap must have been one of the so called"last ditch"models. I read one time that P.O.Ackley used to overload to see what it wouold take to blow up the various actions and never got the Jap to pop.
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